Dacotah Stock Car checkers are first for Gartner

Modified, Results, Sport Compact, Stock Car

Scott Gartner’s career first IMCA Sunoco Stock Car career win came in Friday’s scheduled event for The Class Too Tough To Tame at Dacotah Speedway. (Photo by Layn Mudder)

By Becca Pelkey

MANAN, N.D. (Aug. 2, 2024) – It was a super hot Friday night at Dacotah Speedway on Friday and the night kicked off with the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car make-up feature from June 28.

Dylan Herner and Jason Meidinger led the field to the green flag. Meidinger took the early lead but Shawn Strand quickly worked his way to the front to challenge. They raced door-to-door for several laps before Strand slipped by on lap four.

Meidinger then fell into the clutches of Hunter Domagala. As they raced hard for second, Shawn Volk made it a three-car battle. While racing for second, Domagala got loose and spun in front of the field with six laps to go.

On the restart, Todd Carter passed Volk for second and was all over Strand’s rear bumper. When the checkered flag waved, Strand held off Carter for the victory. Volk finished a season-best third. 

When the green flag waved in the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature, it was a three-car battle for the lead between Alex Thompson, Krys Yost and Zach Hughbanks.

An early caution regrouped the field and on the restart, a heated battle between Thompson and Hughbanks developed for the lead. Hughbanks, who has won four straight features at Dacotah Speedway, slipped by Thompson on lap four.

Thompson hung with Hughbanks and as they continued to battle hard for the lead, it allowed third place Benjamin Burke to reel them in. With four laps remaining, Burke passed Thompson for second. However, Burke had to settle for second. Thompson crossed the finish line third. For the fifth time this season, Hughbanks parked his car in Dacotah Speedway’s victory lane. 

Outside pole sitter Scott Gartner grabbed the early lead from pole sitter Meidinger in the scheduled Stock Car feature. As Gartner lead, Meidinger started to fade, losing positions to Jeremy Herr, Domagala and Marlyn Seidler.

Domagala, who started sixth, passed Herr on lap five before an early caution erased Gartner’s lead. On the restart, Domagala passed for the lead but Gartner hung around and they raced side-by-side for numerous laps.

Trying to clear the position. Domagala attempted to pull a slide job on Gartner but slid up the track, allowing Gartner to retake the lead with seven laps to go.

Finding some extra speed along the high side of the track, Gartner started to pull away. After racing IMCA Stock Cars for several years, Gartner crossed the finish line first for the first time in The Class Too Tough To Tame. Domagala settled for second place. Casey Binstock and Strand made last-lap passes on Seidler to finish third and fourth, respectively. 

In the final feature of the evening, John Correll led early in the Friesen Perforane IMCA Modified main.

Rookie Shawn Keena passed Correll on lap two and quickly pulled away from the field. However, an early caution erased Keena’s lead. On the restart, Jeremy Keller motored to the front, bringing defending track champion Mark Dahl with him.

Despite a series of late-race cautions, Keller and Dahl continued to battle hard. However, in the final laps, Keller started to pull away and went on to win. Dahl finished second. Quentin Kinzley finished third.

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